The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-10-06
A COLORED FINANCIER.
The story OF AN American Negro who IL Said to
Have Originated the HIitkiewIcz Banking
Scheme,

a gentleman who has resided twenty.six
| in China, and who has just arrived at San
Francisco, said to reporter:
1.-The syndicate in which MitchiewiCZ is
| prominent figure had its origin from
quarter unknown. The scher'c which has
astonished the financial autocrats had its
| birth in the brain of an American colorcd
man, George A. Butler. The father Of this
| gigantic banking scheme is the son of negro
parents and was born in Washington, ID.
e., In 1885. He became lngust of con-
siderable ability. He had brother attached
| to the French legation at Paris in a humble
| capacity, and to him the future fuancier
went twenty years ago. When Arson
Burlingamc was appointed to represent the
United States at PCkin he visited Paris on
his way and took II liking to Butler, who
| had acquired quite Partisan polish.
Butler spoke French and German tlucntly
| and had had some knowledge of Chinese
| He went with the American Ambassador
to Pckin, where he held q position as
attaChcc to the United States Legation
His aptitude for acquiring foreign tongue,
| was so great that after short residence in
Pekin he mastered the mandarin Chinese.
''Whcn Burlngamc left Perkin Butler
decided to remain in the country, where he
had managed to obtain influence among
| financial magnatcs. lie was appointed TO-
| the position Of warehouse keeper for tic
Wcll-known firm of Russell & Co., of
Shanghai, owners Of the fleet of merchant
| steamers called the Shanghai Navigation
Company. The position occupied by
Butler was most responsible, and the high
| est confidence was rcpOScd in his business
| abilities. The Russell steamers were sold
to Chinese business men, and the company
was subsequently known as the Chinese
Merchants Steamship Company The new
| company did not retain the services Of
Butler, but in short time they found that
| they were being plundercd by their own
countrymcn. At last they called in the
| colorcd manager. Butler soon sraightcncd
| out the intricacics in which the accounts of
| the firm had been involved.
"Whcn the war between France and
China was imminent, Butler succeeded in
having the fleet of steamers transferred to
| an American company, hurriedly organized
| Tor the purpose, and with stars and StriDcs
lying, the ships continued unmolcStcd by
the French to ply between other ports and
Shanghai. At the close of the war the
steamers were rctransferrcd to company
OF Chinese merchants, and the business
reputation Of Butler was further enhanced
The Chinese government was hard up and
| through the negotiations of Butler, a loan
or million tacls was successfully floated,
with the aid Of foreign banks at Shanghai.
Butler made an American and European
tour. He went to London, where he was
well received by the Marquis Tseng,
Chinese ambassador at the court of ST.
James.
"ln the course of that visit to London
was Matched the gigantic scheme which has
surprised the tinancicrs of the world. The
chief promoters Of the syndicate were then,
as now, Ii Hung Chang, viccroy at Ticn,
Tsin, and Kcc Chung, the wealthicst and
most intelligent of the great Chinese mcr
chants at Shanghai In the autumn of last
year the Marquis Tscng left London for
China. and Butler at the same time left
London for New York for the purpose Cf
pulling wires at that place. After making
what has since been demonstrated to have
been satisfactory arrangements he left
New York and arrived at Pekin in April
St Tine 5e"r.~. Jie ,Syosa admitted to tfeA de-
libcrations of the Imperial Council, and
then suddenly disappeared and rcturcd to
London. The PRONUNCIATION Of the con
cession granted by the Chinese government
followed, and the connection of Mtkiewicz
with the scheme came prominently before
the public.
Butler is now So years of age, and is
very dark in color. He dresses with the
precision of Partisan; his manners are as
polished as though he were Il Bourbon in
the Faubough ST. Germain."